Controlling functions of mobile communications devices

ABSTRACT

Function-control instructions for controlling a function or feature of a device can be created remotely, locally, or both. A device can receive a function-control instruction or a function-control instruction embedded in received content. Additionally, or alternatively, a function-control instruction can be created locally based on user information or calibration information. Function-control instructions can be passed to an instruction execution application that interprets the function-control instruction. The instruction execution application can pass instructions, based on the function-control instruction, to the device for implementation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of mobilecommunications devices. More particularly, the present invention relatesto controlling functions of mobile communications device.

BACKGROUND

With the proliferation of the use of mobile communications devices overthe past several years has come a corresponding increase in thecomplexity of communications devices and their ability to handle complextasks. Not coincidentally, the average size, resolution, and color depthof communications device displays has increased to support theever-increasing demands of mobile communications device users.

The increased size, resolution, and color depth of mobile communicationsdevice displays has allowed users to use mobile communications devicesfor many tasks that were previously reserved for personal computers(PCs), and the like. Web browsing, for example, has become moreuser-friendly on devices with larger displays. While previousgenerations of devices supported web browsing, devices often displayedtext only, and layout and images were not necessarily preserved. Withnewer devices, however, a web page can look nearly identical on both amobile communications device, and on a display connected to a PC.Therefore, the amount of content that can be displayed on a mobilecommunications device display can be substantially identical to theamount of content that can be displayed on a display connected to a PC.

Mobile communications devices typically have many functions that can becustomized by a user, a manufacturer, or an authorized technician. Oncecustomized, these customized functions will often be applied uniformly,irrespective of the task for which the device is being utilized at anygiven time.

For example, many devices include a backlight capability that can beactivated to make a device display easier to read. Backlighting adisplay has one major drawback, namely, that backlighting uses a greatdeal of energy and can therefore deplete battery charge relativelyquickly. To address this problem, backlighting is typically adjustableto reduce the period of time for which backlighting is activated. Forexample, a backlight can typically be adjusted in the devicepreferences, or by a device manufacturer, to stay on for a set amount oftime after a button on the device is pushed.

Other device functions and features, including, but not limited to,device sounds, power settings, and display settings, are oftencustomizable as well. With respect device sounds, a user can typicallyselect or download audio clips and assign them to desired devicefunctions such as ring tones, feedback tones, message waitingindicators, alerts, alarms, and the like.

SUMMARY

A function-control instruction can be created for controlling anyfunction or feature of a mobile communications device. A file caninclude one or more function-control instructions, or, in thealternative, a file can itself be one or more function-controlinstructions. For example, a function-control instruction can be a METAtag within a file, such as, for example, a web page.

A file and/or a function-control instruction can be stored on a networkdevice such as, for example, a web server. Alternatively, a networkdevice can be a second mobile communications device. A web server can belocated on, or have access to, a variety of other networks. Any numberof networks can interface with one another, and, therefore, the networkdevice. One or more of the networks can include a wireless transmitter,such as, for example, a cellular telephone network transmitter, a WI-FIhotspot, a BLUETOOTH transmitter, and the like. One or more wirelesstransmitters can interface with one or more mobile communicationsdevices. As such, one or more mobile communications devices caninterface with a network device via any number of networks.

A network device can transfer a file and/or a function-controlinstruction to one or more mobile communications devices. Upon receivinga file and/or a function-control instruction, the mobile communicationsdevice can analyze the received file and search for a function-controlinstruction. If a function-control instruction is found, the device canextract the function-control instruction from the received file and passthe function-control instruction to an instruction executionapplication. The remainder of the file can be executed in the normalfashion.

The instruction execution application can be a software program,application, subroutine, and the like. The instruction executionapplication can execute the function-control instruction and determineto which function the function-control instruction pertains, and whatparameters should be applied to the desired function. The instructionexecution application can then pass instructions to the device toexecute the desired function in the manner specified by thefunction-control instruction.

Instead of creating a function-control instruction remotely and passingthe function-control instruction to a device, a function-controlinstruction can be created at the device based on user information orcalibration information stored at the device. A software program,application, subroutine, and the like, can function as afunction-control instruction generator. User information or calibrationinformation can be applied to any desired function, features, and can betriggered by any event, for example, when the device receives data.

A function-control instruction can be determined based upon theapplication of user information and/or calibration information to thereceived data, content, or other trigger event. Instead of, or inaddition to, receiving a function-control instruction, thefunction-control instruction generator can create a function-controlinstruction, pass it to an instruction execution application, and theinstruction execution application can execute the function-controlinstruction in a manner substantially similar to that explained above.

One contemplated example of applying user information to received datato generate a function-control instruction includes calibrating afunction-control instruction generator application by determining adevice user's reading speed and applying that reading speed to appliedtext or web content. When text or content is received, the user'sreading speed can be applied to the content to determine how long theuser will need to read or view the content. The function-controlinstruction generator can create a function-control instruction and passthe function-control instruction to an instruction executionapplication. Another contemplated example includes using a user's ZIPcode, or the device's current ZIP code, to retrieve weather, news,traffic, and the like.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention includes a methodfor remotely controlling a function of a mobile communications device.An instruction execution application is included on a mobilecommunications device. A file is stored on a network device. The file istransferred from the network device to the mobile communications device.The mobile communications device extracts one or more function-controlinstructions included in the transferred file and transfers thefunction-control instruction to the instruction execution application.The instruction execution application executes the function-controlinstruction and instructs the device to perform a function as directedby the function-control instruction.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the instructionexecution application is stored in a device firmware.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to a device function.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction is a META tag.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to backlighting.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to a device sound.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to a transfer medium.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the file is awebpage.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the webpage is atleast partially written in hypertext markup language (HTML).

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the network deviceis a server.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the extracting stepis performed by an application residing on the mobile communicationsdevice.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the application isa web browser.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the file is one ormore function-control instructions.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method forremotely controlling a function of a mobile communications device. Aninstruction execution application is included on a mobile communicationsdevice. A function-control instruction generator is also included on amobile communications device. The function-control instruction generatorcan apply user-based rules to received content to generatefunction-control instructions. A generated function-control instructioncan be passed to the instruction execution application. The instructionexecution application can execute the function-control instruction andcan instruct the device to perform a function as directed by thefunction-control instruction.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, the instructionexecution application is stored in a device firmware.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to a device function.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to backlighting.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction relates to a device sound.

According to an aspect of this or other embodiments, thefunction-control instruction generator is a web browser.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a system forremotely controlling a function of a mobile communications device. Thesystem includes a network storage device for storing a file thatincludes, or is, a function-control instruction. The system alsoincludes a network node for transferring the file from the networkstorage device to a mobile communications device. The mobilecommunications device is configured to recognize a function-controlinstruction, pass the function-control instruction to an instructionexecution application, execute the function-control instruction, andperform a device function according to the function-control instruction.

These and further features of the present invention will be apparentwith reference to the following description and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary communications device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary communications device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for passing afunction-control instruction to a mobile communications device from aremote device.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a method of implementing afunction-control instruction at a mobile communications device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a method of creating and implementing afunction-control instruction at a mobile communications device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexemplary examples of the invention that may be embodied in various andalternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word“exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as anillustration, specimen, model or pattern. The figures are notnecessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimizedto show details of particular components. In other instances, well-knowncomponents, systems, materials or methods have not been described indetail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, an exemplary electronic device 10 isillustrated. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the electronicdevice 10 is a mobile communications device (“device”). The device 10can be, for example, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a handset, aportable computer, a portable game system, any device capable ofreceiving a message, combinations thereof, and the like. The device 10can include an indicator 12. The indicator can be, for example, a lightemitting diode (LED) that indicates various status states of the device10. The device 10 includes a speaker 14 and a microphone 16. The speaker14 and the microphone 16 collectively and respectively transmit andreceive audio signals.

The device 10 includes a display 20 for communicating features andstatus to the user, and for enabling the user to navigate the controlsystem and use various features of the device. The display 20 may alsobe used to display, for example, text, images, video, movies, games,streaming video, GPS information, email, Internet files, telephonyfunctions such as Caller ID data, setup functions, menus, musicmetadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics, voice mail status and/oroptions, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be understoodthat a display 20 can be of any desired dimensions, shape, resolution,and color depth.

The display 20 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, or othersuitable device, and can include a backlight capability. A display 20backlight capability can be provided by any suitable device, including,but not limited to, an electroluminescent panel (ELP), light emittingdiodes (LEDs) behind, in front of, or next to a display, an incandescentlight source, combinations or equivalents thereof, and the like.Additionally, while the term “backlight” is used, the display 20 can,but does not necessarily, include a light, per se. Instead, the display20, depending upon the method used to create an image, can operate at ahigher intensity or brightness to simulate backlighting. Methods forbacklighting, literally or metaphorically, are known in the art, and allmethods thereof are intended to be included in the scope of the appendedclaims.

As illustrated, the device 10 can include a plurality of keys, includingsoftkeys 22, function keys 24, an initiate call key 26, and a terminatecall key 30. Some devices can also include a directional key 32. Adirectional key 32 can allow navigation through various menus and listsand/or can facilitate control of various features of the device. Insteadof a directional key, some devices include a joy stick, a roller wheel,a rocker switch, and the like. A mobile communications device 10generally includes an alpha-numeric keypad 34 for inputting numbersand/or letters while interacting with the device. Although notillustrated, a device 10 can include a touch-sensitive screen insteadof, or in addition to, the display 20 and some or all of the illustratedplurality of keys.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an exemplary mobilecommunications device 10 for use in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. Although no connections are shownbetween the components illustrated and described in FIG. 2, thecomponents can interact with each other to carry out device functions.

As illustrated, the mobile communications device 10 can be a multimodehandset. FIG. 2 and the following discussion are intended to provide abrief, general description of a suitable environment in which thevarious aspects of an embodiment of the present invention can beimplemented. While the description includes a general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, the present invention can also beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, applications can include routines, program modules, programs,components, data structures, and the like. Applications can beimplemented on various system configurations, including single-processoror multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based,programmable consumer electronics, combinations thereof, and the like.

The device 10 can include a variety of computer readable media,including volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, andnon-removable media. Computer-readable media can include device storagemedia and communication media. Storage media can include volatile and/ornon-volatile, removable and/or non-removable media such as, for example,RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD,or other optical disk storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used tostore the desired information and that can be accessed by the device 10.

The device 10 can include a processor 36 for controlling, and/orprocessing data. A memory 40 can interface with the processor 36 for thestorage of data and/or applications 42. An application 42 can include,for example, video player software, a web browser, an instructionexecution application, user feedback component software, combinationsthereof, and the like. The application 42 can also include a userinterface (UI) application 44. The UI application 44 can interface witha client 46 (e.g., an operating system) to facilitate user interactionwith device functionality and data, for example, answering/initiatingcalls, entering/deleting data, configuring settings, browsing theinternet, address book manipulation, multimode interaction, and thelike. The applications 42 can include other applications 50 such as, forexample, firmware, add-ons, plug-ins, voice recognition, call voiceprocessing, voice recording, messaging, e-mail processing, internetbrowsers, video processing, image processing, music play, combinationsthereof, and the like, as well as subsystems and/or components. Theapplications 42 can be stored in the memory 40 and/or in a firmware 52,and can be executed by the processor 36. The firmware 52 can also storecode for execution during initialization of the device 10.

A communications component 54 can interface with the processor 36 tofacilitate wired/wireless communications with external systemsincluding, for example, cellular networks, packet networks, VoIPnetworks, LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, that can be implemented using WI-FI,WI-MAX, combinations and/or improvements thereof, and the like. Thecommunications component 54 can also include a multimode communicationssubsystem for providing cellular communications via different cellulartechnologies. For example, a first cellular transceiver 56 can operatein one mode, for example, GSM, and an Nth transceiver 60 can operate ina different mode, for example UMTS. While only two transceivers 56, 60are illustrated, it should be appreciated that a plurality oftransceivers can be included. The communications component 54 can alsoinclude a transceiver 62 for unlicensed communications using technologysuch as, for example, WI-MAX, BLUETOOTH, infrared, IRDA, NFC, RF, andthe like. The communications component 54 can also facilitatecommunications reception from terrestrial radio networks, digitalsatellite radio networks, Internet-based radio services networks,combinations thereof, and the like. The communications component 54 canprocess data from a network such as, for example, the Internet, acorporate intranet, a home broadband network, and the like, via an ISP,DSL provider, or broadband provider.

An input/output (I/O) interface 64 can be provided for input/output ofdata and/or signals. The I/O interface 64 can be a hardwire connection,such as, for example, a USB, PS2, IEEE 1394, serial, parallel, Ethernet(RJ48), RJ11, and the like, and can accept other I/O devices such as,for example, a keyboard, keypad, mouse, interface tether, stylus pen,printer, thumb drive, touch screen, touch pad, trackball, joy stick,monitor, display, an LCD, combinations thereof, and the like.

Audio capabilities can be provided by an audio I/O component 66 that caninclude a speaker 14 for the output of audio signals and a microphone 16to collect audio signals.

The device 10 can include a slot interface 70 for accommodating asubscriber identity system 72 such as, for example, a SIM or universalSIM (USIM). The subscriber identity system 72 instead can bemanufactured into the device 10, thereby potentially obviating the needfor a slot interface 70.

The device 10 can include an image capture and processing system 74.Photos and/or videos can be obtained via an associated image capturesubsystem of the image system 74, for example, a camera. The device 10can also include a video component 76 for processing, recording, and/ortransmitting video content.

A location component 80 can be included to send and/or receive signalssuch as, for example, GPS data, triangulation data, combinationsthereof, and the like. The device 10 can use the received data toidentify its location or can transmit data used by other devices todetermine the device 10 location.

The device 10 can include a power source 82 such as batteries and/orother power subsystem (AC or DC). The power source 82 can interface withan external power system or charging equipment via a power I/O component84.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary system that can be used totransfer one or more function-control instructions to one or moreexemplary mobile communications devices 10 is schematically illustrated.While many devices and/or components may be necessary to perform thetasks described, these devices and/or components are not illustrated inFIG. 3 in order to simplify description. Furthermore, it is noted thatnetwork components and/or devices are well known and need not beexplained in detail.

One or more electronic files 90 can be created. An electronic file 90can be, for example, a web page document. Web page documents can be atleast partially written or scripted in any language, including, but notlimited to, CCXML, CSS, CGI, DOM, HTML, InkML, OWL, RDF, SVG, SMIL,SSML, WSDL, XACML, XFDL, XHTML, XML, combinations thereof, and the like.An electronic file 90 can also be an image, a video, a text document, anMMS message, an SMS message, a sound clip, combinations thereof, and thelike. An electronic file 90 can be sent to one or more electronicdevices including, but not limited to, a personal computer, a mobilecommunications device 10, a PDA, a laptop, and the like.

One or more function-control instructions 92 can be created andappended, inserted, or otherwise included in the file 90. Alternatively,one or more function-control instructions 92 can be the file 90. Afunction-control instruction 92 can be written in any machine-readableformat. For example, a function-control instruction 92 can be a CGIscript, a JAVA script, a META tag, and the like, though other formatsand languages for a function-control instruction 92 are both possibleand contemplated. A function-control instruction 92 can selectivelycontrol any desired function of a mobile communications device 10.

For example, a function-control instruction 92 can control the backlightfunction of a display 20 of a mobile communications device 10. Asexplained above, the term “backlight,” as used in the specification andthe claims, is intended to include any method of making a display 20more visible to a user. Such lighting capabilities may be particularlyuseful in, for example, low- or no-light conditions. Methods ofbacklighting include, but are not limited to, the placing of a lightsource behind, in front of, or to the side of a display 20. Acceptablelight sources include, but are not limited to, an electroluminescentpanel (ELP), one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), an incandescentlight source, combinations or equivalents thereof, and the like.

A function-control instruction 92 can also control other functions orfeatures of a mobile communications device 10, for example, the playingof sound clips, ring tones, feedback tones, dialing modes, transfermediums, display backgrounds, image displays, the playing of videoclips, combinations thereof, and the like. Support for controlling anyfunction with a function-control instruction 92 can be included in adevice 10 as, for example, an application or a software program. Anapplication or software program can be stored in a device firmware 52, amemory 40, or any other suitable location. Therefore, any function canbe controlled by a function-control instruction 92. It should be noted,however, that a mobile communications device 10 or other recipientelectronic device can ignore a function-control instruction 92 ifdesired. For example, a user of a device 10 can select an optionincluded on the device 10 that turns off, or overrides, an instructionexecution application, or function-control instructions from adesignated source. In this manner, some or all function-controlinstructions 92, from some or all sources, can be ignored by a device10.

A file 90, including one or more function-control instructions 92, canbe loaded onto a suitable storage device 94 with access to, or locatedon, one or more networks 96. The storage device 94 can include, forexample, a storage component, e.g., a hard disk drive, an opticalstorage medium, a flash drive, a memory, and the like, of a personalcomputer, a server, a disk array, a memory of another mobilecommunications device 10, combinations thereof, and the like. A network96 can include, for example, a packet network such as the Internet, alocal area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a widearea network (WAN), a personal area network (PAN), an extranet, anintranet, a cellular network, a PSTN network, a wireless network,combinations or equivalents thereof, and the like.

The networks 96 can also include a wireless transmitter 98. The wirelesstransmitter 98 can include a cellular tower, a radio tower, a Wi-Fitransmitter, a BLUETOOTH® transmitter, an infrared transmitter, an NFCtransmitter, combinations thereof, or any other means for transmittingsignals.

As illustrated, the wireless transmitter 98 can wirelessly communicatewith a mobile communications devices 10 using at least one protocolsupported by the wireless transmitter 98 and a mobile communicationsdevice 10. A file 90, one or more function-control instructions 92, or acombination thereof, can be transferred from the storage device 94 toone or more mobile communications devices 10 over a network 96, one ormore wireless transmitters 98, or a combination thereof.

It should be understood that a mobile communications device 10 canrequest, and/or receive, one or more files 90, function-controlinstructions 92, or combinations thereof, at any given time. Similarly,a mobile communications device 10 can create a file 90, and/or afunction-control instruction 92 for transfer to a storage device 94 oranother mobile communications device 10. In other words, files 90 andfunction-control instructions 92 can be transferred to and from one ormore mobile communications devices 10 and storage devices 94.

It should also be understood that a file 90 with a function-controlinstruction 92 can be transmitted from a mobile communications device 10to one or more other mobile communications devices 10. Afunction-control instruction 92 can be attached to a video clip and sentfrom a first mobile communications device 10 to a second mobilecommunications device (not illustrated). As an illustrative example, afirst user may want to send a video clip, i.e., a file 90, with acertain duration to a second user. The first user can create the file90, and specify a function-control instruction 92 that instructs adevice 10 to turn the backlight on for the duration of the video clip.For example, if the video clip is 37 seconds long, the function-controlinstruction 92 can specify that the device 10 turn the backlight on for37 seconds. The first device 10 can send a file 90 to a second devicewith a function-control instruction 92 as an attachment to an email, anMMS message, a web page, or using any other transfer medium.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method for implementing function-controlinstructions 92 at mobile communications devices 10, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. It shouldbe understood that the steps described are not necessarily presented inany particular order and performance of some or all the steps in analternative order(s) is possible and is contemplated. The steps havebeen presented in the demonstrated order for ease of description andillustration. Steps can be added, omitted and/or performedsimultaneously without departing from the scope of the appended claims.Some or all steps of this process, and/or substantially equivalentsteps, can be performed by execution of computer-readable instructionsincluded on a computer readable medium.

In block 102, a mobile communications device 10 can receive a file 90.As mentioned above, the file 90 can include one or more function-controlinstructions 92. Alternatively, the file 90 can itself be one or morefunction-control instructions 92.

In block 104, the received file(s) 90 can be analyzed to determine if afile 90 is a function-control instruction 92, or if a function-controlinstruction 92 is attached, embedded, or otherwise included with thefile 90. If a function-control instruction 92 is recognized, then theprocess can continue with block 106. If there is no function-controlinstruction 92 included in the file 90, or if the file 90 is not afunction-control instruction 92, then the process can end.

At block 106, the function-control instruction 92 can be extracted fromthe file 90. After the function-control instruction 92 is extracted froma file 90, or if the file 90 is a function-control instruction 92, thenthe process can continue with block 108.

It should be understood that the analysis step of block 104 can occurduring, for example, execution, decoding, compiling, or reading of thefile 90. For example, if the file 90 is a webpage, then thefunction-control instruction 92 may be appended as a META tag. In such acase, a web browser can recognize and extract the function-controlinstruction 92 while reading the file 90. The web browser can pass thefunction-control instruction 92 to an instruction execution applicationbefore, during, or after execution of the remainder of the file 90.Alternatively, the file 90 can be executed after the processschematically illustrated in FIG. 4 has ended or while the process isbeing carried out.

In block 108, a function-control instruction 92 can be passed to aninstruction execution application located on the device 10. As explainedabove, the instruction execution application can be a software program,subroutine, or application that resides in a device firmware 52, a flashdrive 40, a hard drive, and the like. Alternatively, an instructionexecution application can be located on a SIM 72. Regardless of wherethe instruction execution application is located, the instructionexecution application can receive the function-control instruction 92from the device 10.

In block 110, the instruction execution application can read thefunction-control instruction 92 to determine to what function thefunction-control instruction 92 pertains, and/or any other parametersrelating to the execution of the function-control instruction 92. Oncethe function-control instruction 92 is read, the instruction executionapplication can pass instructions to the mobile communications device10.

In block 112, the device 10 can perform a function according to thedirectives included in the transferred function-control instruction 92.After performing the function as directed by the function-controlinstruction 92, the process can end. The process illustrated in FIG. 4can be repeated for each function-control instruction 92 included in afile 90 or otherwise transferred to a mobile communications device 10.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method for creating and implementingfunction-control instructions at mobile communications devices 10,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, isschematically illustrated. It should be understood that the stepsdescribed are not necessarily presented in any particular order andperformance of some or all the steps in an alternative order(s) ispossible and is contemplated. The steps have been presented in thedemonstrated order for ease of description and illustration. Steps canbe added, omitted and/or performed simultaneously without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims. Some or all steps of this process,and/or substantially equivalent steps, can be performed by execution ofcomputer-readable instructions included on a computer readable medium.

In block 114, a function-control instruction generator is calibrated bya user. The function-control instruction generator can be part of asoftware or hardware program, or both. For example, the function-controlinstruction generator can be an application included in a web browsingapplication or can be a program included in a device firmware 52. Afunction-control instruction generator can also be an applicationincluded in software used for viewing SMS messages, email messages, MMSmessages, video clips, slide shows, images, camera input, and the like.

To calibrate a function-control instruction generator, a user caninterface with a software package to create rules, user information, orboth. For example, a user can calibrate a function-control instructiongenerator by interfacing with a device while reading sample textdocuments. Several blocks of text can be displayed, and the user canindicate when the text has been read. As such, the function-controlinstruction generator can determine the user's reading speed. Some filescan have images, and the like, to take into account the average timeadded by adding an image to a document. The reading speed of the usercan be stored as a per-character, per-word, per-page, per-image, orother file-based characteristic. A reading speed of the user can alsoinclude a buffer that adjusts a measured reading speed, if desired.Additionally, a buffer can be dynamically adjusted depending upon anynumber of factors, including, but not limited to, the number of imagesin a received file, the average length of words in a block of text, thetype of content; e.g., sports, news, technical data, the time of day,other tasks running on the device, or any other factors.

As will be explained below, the reading speed can be applied to any textthat is later displayed on the device to determine, for example, howlong the device backlight should be turned on to allow the user to readthe entire document. Once such a determination is made, the time forwhich the backlight is to be activated can be passed to an instructionexecution application as a function-control instruction. The instructionexecution application can then pass instructions to the device to turnon the backlight for the determined span of time. At any time, forexample, if a user's reading speed changes, the function-controlinstruction generator can be re-calibrated by the user. Similarly, thefunction-control instruction generator can periodically, continuously,or upon demand, update reading speed, or any other user- or device-basedparameter.

In addition to, or instead of, calibrating a function-controlinstruction generator, user information can be stored in afunction-control instruction generator. For example, a user's ZIP codecan be stored and various functions can be based on this, or other,information. One contemplated example involves passing a ZIP code andassociated instructions as a function-control instruction to aninstruction execution application. The instruction execution applicationcan then pass instructions to a desired component or softwareapplication and weather, traffic, news, or other information specific toa ZIP code can be downloaded to the device and displayed for the user.Of course, the current ZIP code in which a device 10 is located can bedetermined using other methods. For example, a ZIP code can be passed toa device by a network node.

Another contemplated embodiment involves the storage of a user's serviceprovider and/or account information. When a software application, suchas a web browser, is initiated or performs any other trigger event,graphics, sound, account balances, sales information, or other contentcan be displayed for the user based upon the entered user information.This can be done by passing the user information to an instructionexecution application as a function-control instruction.

Proceeding now to block 116 of FIG. 5, the stored user information orcalibration information can be applied when viewing files or data on adevice. Additionally, or in the alternative, the stored user informationor calibration information can be applied upon a desired trigger event,for example, when a software package, application, program, routine,subroutine, task, or even the device itself, is initiated, completed,powered up, or powered down.

In block 118, the application or software can create a function-controlinstruction by applying the user information and/or calibrationinformation as mentioned in block 116. As explained above, a browsercould include, for example, an option to download weather informationbased on a user-entered or device-determined ZIP code. An applicationcould determine or retrieve a ZIP code, and pass a ZIP code andinstructions to an instruction execution application as afunction-control instruction. Any function of a device can be controlledby specifying tasks and parameters in a user application such as, forexample, a web browser.

In block 120, the application can pass the function-control instructionto an instruction execution application, as explained above.

In block 122, the instruction execution application can read, decode, orotherwise examine the function-control instruction to determine to whatfunction the function-control instruction pertains, and/or whatparameters of a desired function are controlled by the function-controlinstruction. This step can occur substantially as described in block 110of FIG. 4.

In block 124, the instruction execution application can passinstructions to the device to execute the desired function according tothe directives of the function-control instruction, as determined by theinstruction execution application.

The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive toillustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims.Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplaryillustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding ofthe principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, andcombinations may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. All such variations,modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of thisdisclosure and the following claims.

1. A method, for remotely controlling a function of a mobile communications device, comprising: storing, by a processor, to a tangible computer-readable storage medium of a network device, a single file including three distinct components: (i) a first function-control instruction, (ii) a second function-control instruction, and (iii) an executable remainder, wherein: the executable remainder includes an executable file to be executed at the mobile communications device; the first function-control instruction includes first directions advising the mobile communications device on a first manner by which the mobile communications device should execute the executable remainder; and the second function-control instruction includes second directions advising the mobile communications device on a second manner by which the mobile communications device should execute the executable remainder; and communicating, by the processor, transmitting the single file, including the executable remainder, the first function-control instruction, and the second function-control instruction, from the network device to the mobile communications device for executing the first function-control instruction and the second function-control instruction and performing the function associated with the executable remainder in accord with the first function-control instruction and the second function-control instruction; wherein: the first function-control instruction relates to a speed by which a user of the mobile communications device is expected to consume media associated with the executable remainder; and the function-control instruction is based on at least one factor selected from a group of factors consisting of: a number of images associated with the executable remainder; a length of words in a block of text associated with the executable remainder; a type of content associated with the executable remainder; a time of day; and another task running on the mobile communications device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the function and the first function-control instruction relate to at least one device feature selected from a group of device features consisting of: (i) backlighting, in which case: a. the executable remainder relates to visual media; and b. the first function-control instruction instructs the mobile communications device to effect a backlight of the mobile communications device for a pre-determined span of time during presentation of the visual media to a user of the mobile communications device; and (ii) a device sound, in which case the executable remainder relates to audible media.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single file is communicated by way of a webpage.
 4. A method, for controlling a function of a mobile communications device, comprising: storing, at the mobile communications device, in a tangible computer-readable storage medium, a function-control instruction for use in executing the function of the mobile communications device; calibrating, by a function-control instruction generator of the mobile communications device, the function-control instruction, based on user input to the mobile communications device, yielding a calibrated function-control instruction, wherein the calibrating comprises: presenting, by the function-control instruction generator, sample media to the user of the mobile communications device; evaluating, by the function-control instruction generator, a speed at which the user consumes the media, during a speed evaluation operation; and generating, by the function-control instruction generator, the calibrated function-control instruction using results of the speed evaluation operation; communicating, by the function-control instruction generator of the mobile communications device, the calibrated function-control instruction, created using the results of the speed evaluation operation, to an instruction-execution application of the mobile communications device; executing, by the instruction-execution application, the calibrated function-control instruction created using the results of the speed evaluation operation; and performing, by the mobile communications device, the function in accord with the calibrated function-control instruction created using the results of the speed evaluation operation; wherein the calibrated function-control instruction is based on at least one factor selected from a group of factors consisting of: a number of images associated with performance of the function; a length of words in a block of text associated with performance of the function; a type of content associated with performance of the function; a time of day; and another task running on the mobile communications device.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the function-control instruction relates to at least one feature selected from a group of features consisting of: backlighting; and device sound.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the executable remainder includes at least one visual media selected from a group consisting of: a video clip; an image; and text.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: the mobile communications device is a first mobile communications device; and storing the file to the tangible computer-readable storage medium of the network device and communicating the file from the network device to the mobile communications device is performed by the processor being a part of a second mobile communications device storing the single file to the tangible computer-readable storage medium of the network device and communicating the single file to the first mobile communications device.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function-control instruction directs the mobile communications device of a rate by which to display the media.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the media includes at least one item selected from a group consisting of: text; an image; and a webpage.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein the media includes at least one item selected from a group consisting of: text; an image; and a webpage.
 11. The method of claim 4, wherein: the user input is a first user input; and the method further comprises: re-calibrating, by the function-control instruction generator, the calibrated function-control instruction, based on a second input, to form a re-calibrated function-control instruction; communicating, by the function-control instruction generator of the mobile communications device, the re-calibrated function-control instruction to the instruction-execution application of the mobile communications device; executing, by the instruction-execution application, the re-calibrated function-control instruction; and performing, by the mobile communications device, the function in accord with the re-calibrated function-control instruction.
 12. The method of claim 4, further comprising re-calibrating automatically, by the function-control instruction generator, the function-control instruction periodically.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device includes an override setting causing the mobile communications device to disregard the first function-control instruction of the file in executing the executable remainder.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein: the second function-control instruction relates to timing of a backlighting function of the mobile communications device in connection with executing the remainder.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein: the mobile communications device is a first mobile communications device; and the network device is a second mobile communications device. 